Box-taping machine



l x TAPING MACHINE original Filed May 1o, 1924 5 sheets-smet 1- Feb. 4, 1930.

J. H. McPlKl-z 1,745,940

Box TAPING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Shed"I 2 Grginal Filed May 10, 1924 .vll I Il' /QTTORNEV Feb. 4, 193.0.`

J. H. MC PIKE B0Xv TAPING MACHINE Original Filed May l0. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z/v VEN fok /QTv'O/LENEV Feb. 4, 1930.

Box TAPIG MACHINE riginal Filed May 1o, 1924 b sheets-'sheet 4 Il l I.ll-Il J. H. McPlSKE. 11,745,940/

Feb. 4, 1930.

' Box TAPING MACHINE original Filed May 10, 1924` /074 /g` 1357 l /U mle 0524 70 /g' 5 lSheets-Sheet 5 TTOENEY J. H. MCPIKE 1,745,940

Patented Feb. 4, 1930 JOHN II. McPIxE, on ALToN, ILLINOIS vTacx-:marne MACHINE Original` application filed May 10, 1924,

v 1926. serial' This invention relates to a certain new and useful machine for taping together they edges of folded corrugated or other fiber boards or blanks for the ,purpose of making cartons or packing receptacles forshipping and handling Various classes of merchandise.

It has been found that packing boxes or cartons for shippingfand handling Various classes of goods can be made from wood 1o fiber by corrugating a thin sheet and pastin or gluing a plain sheet on either or both si es of the corrugated sheet, thus giving the product, suiiicient strength, elasticity,

' and pliability to make a container of a Very high quality for packing and shipping goods of various kinds. These boxes or containers have usually been made by cutting to size and scoring the box-board,l that is, marking by an indentation along the line where the stock is to be folded. At each corner of` the box, the stock is slit and slotted so that it may be turned in at right angles to form the top and bottom of the box, respectively. :The usual method employed in the .production of such boxes or cartons is to form the T board by hand, into a box and join the abutting edges ,by means of a tape past-ed firmly' down upon each end, so as to hold the ends together. I am aware, however, that a number of machines for folding boxes are in successful operation, and I am also aware that taping folded boxes by mac hineryk is not broadly new, but heretofore, as far as I am aware, each of these processes has generally been performed either by single machines working independently or partly by machinery and partly by. hand. In a copending application, Serial No; 712,223, 4d filed Mayn 10, 1924, I show and describe a combined machine for folding and taping boxes, thereby increasing production, .while reducing the cost thereof, and makingboxes of uniformly highquality. My presentvapplication is directed, however, more generally to the taping mechanism of the machine, the folding mechanism thereof, while herein shown and briefly described, forming more generally the subject-matter of the claims'of 50 my said c o-pending application, of which Serial No. 712,223. Divided and this application led December 24,

co-pending application, the present application is a division and continuation.

An object of my present invention isthe provision in a taplng machine of mechanism capable of ready adjustment for effecting the taping of folded box-blanks of various sizes, shapes, and dimensions.

Another objectof my invention is the provision of a taping machine that is substantially entirely automatic in its action, requiring an. operators attention, only in de livering the stock, cut to size, inbulk and installing upon the preferably sufficiently long to keep or maintain the machine in operation for several hours.

A still further object of my inventionis the provision of a taping machine capable of adjustment for functioning equally well in hot or cold weather and equally well under wet or dr weather conditions.

An ad itional object of my invention is the provision in a taping machine of heating means for maintaining form temperature, so that the tape maybe firmly and uniformly irrespective of the temperature or atmospheric conditions under which the machine is operating. j

And with the above and other objects and advantages in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims..

In the accompanying drawing (tive sheets),-

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a combined box folding and taping machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the taping mechanism;

Figure/3 is a fragmental elevational view of the forward end-portion of a taping-machine of my invention, showing unfolded stock in a pile preparatory to taping by the machine into box form;

Figure4 is an enlarged perspective view,

partly broken away, of the taping mechanism as -a whole;

machine a reel of tape the adhesive at a uniapplied to the box, f.

`Figure 9 is a plan view of a sheet of stock slit, slotted, and scored .for box formation;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the stock substantially as folded and fed to the taping mechanism;

Figure 11 is a taped box; and

Figure 12 is a'perspective view of a taped box before the top' and bottom have been folded in place.

Referring now more in detail and by refplan view of a folded and erence characters to the drawings, A desig- ,Y

nates the base or frame of the machine, as .a whole, B the receiving platform on which the stock C to-be folded and taped is placed, D `the folding element, and E the taping mechanism, l

The stock C to. be folded, as shown in plan in Figure 9, is-in the form of a sheet of suitable material, such as, for instance, card or corrugated board, cut to size, scored, and slotted, that is to say, the edges of the stock have been suitably cut and slotted inwardly, as atv1,:in alignment with the scoring, to provide the foldable top and bottom portions or flaps of the box, respectively. The stockrC is disposed' for folding crosswise, so to speak, of the platform B, as best seen in Figure 1, and Figure 11 illustrates a box that has been folded and its free edges brought together and taped, as at 2, by my combined folding and box-taping machine. Figure 11 also Aillustrates the form in which the folded and taped box is delivered from the machine after the tape 2 has been applied, while Figure 12 shows a non-square or quadrilateral box-blank, such asthe present stock C, that has been folded, taped, and delivered by the machine and the folded partscthen drawn apart for the purpose of folding in the endflaps preparatory to the completion of the box.

The tapingmechanism E, I may here state, occupies a fixed position near the lateral center of the vbase A and, in the combined machine, is at the rear end thereof and is disposed to deliver the tape to the folded stock at the exact workinglor lateral center of the machine. Hence, the box-blanks C to be taped must be so positioned upon the platform B of the combined machine'that when brought together for taping, the joints will each correspondingly be in the lateral center' of the table and carried in a straight line reari wardly to the taping mechanism E.

Reference is made to my said co-pending application for a full and detail description lof the base A, the receiving platform B, and

zontally upon thel table A, then uniformlyV folded for taping by the wings 52 in co-operation with a fixed guide-plate 71, then held in flat folded condition by the flattening-members or movable pressereclamps 72 and fixed clamps or plates 88, and then with the joint so formed fed to the taping machine E for taping. i

Referring again to Figure 1l, it Will be noted that the tape 2 has been applied to the folded ybox-blank or stock C at a point some distance from its opposite topand bottom sides and center, and in suchfconnection I may here state' that the 'distance from the center of-the 'tape 2 to the right-hand margin of the box of Figure 1-1 is the length of a side of the box and the distance from the center of the tape 2 to the left-hand margin of the box of Figure 11 is the width of the box, the dimension from side to side of the blank defining the unfolded. height of the box. It will be evident that when a quadrilateral box-blank, such, for instance, as the box-blank or stock C here shown, is folded flatwise together, the edges to be taped`will be'nearer .one right or left margin of the folded stock than to the other. Only a square box may be so folded that the edges or ends to be joined would meet in the exact center. It will, therefore, be obvious that a combined folding and taping machine to be economically successful and eficent in the handling and production of boxes of various sizes and various shapes should be adjustable, so that Vthe tape may be placed at any distance desired between the right and left margins of the box-blank or stock when folded flat together, as here shown in Figure 11. My combined folding and taping machine, as in my said co-pcnding application fully described, is of such type and capable of a wide range of adjustments on either side of thevlaJ eral center of the box, namely, the center. beam 14,

for handling, folding, and taping boxes of y practically anyshape, size, or length. It will be clear, however, that if these various lateral adjustments should be inaccurately made by a careless or indii'erent'operator, much .stock would be wasted andthe Work per-V formed by the machine unsatisfactory, and

that the mechanism for eecting such lateral adjustments upon one lateral side of the may'/plica'tion fully Y say that chine must operate independentlyof the mechanism foreecting such lateral adjustments upon the opposite lateral side of the machine. It will also be clear that all lateral adjustments upon one must be simultaneouslymade, so that all the severalparts to be adJusted on such respectivefside of the workingcenter of the machine may function properly with a fixed' relation tp' one another. Such mechanism in my combined machine is in my said co-pending apdescribed. Suffice it now to the machine is so constructed that, the opposite sides of the frame, the stock conveyor chains 38, the stock abutment plates 430, and the stock folding wings 52 upon the opposite sides of the center beam 14 of lthe machlne may be independently adj usted laterally toward or from the center beam 14 to accommodate for feeding and folding box-blanks of various sizes and dimensions, so that when folded and their free edges brought together for 'taping and irrespective of the size and dimensions of the box-blank, the edges thereof to be taped will be brought iatwise in abutting relation in the exact lateral center of the machine.

In the foregoing description, I have briefly mentioned the various parts of the combined machine, which effect successive ,folding of the box-blanks C, the free edges of each thereof to be taped being folded and brought together to approximately flatwise abut in a duced by it in the exact lateral center straight line and as so folded delivered or of the machine and fed by the conveyor element E, now-shortly to be described. The commercial and economic value of any automatic machine naturally depends upon its capacity, and its capacity depends upon its ability to produce unintermittently or uninterruptedl so that the product profbws. steadily through it in a constant stream, each operation taking place progressively, untouched by human hand'and developing from the raw material into the finished product in the shortest possible time. In my combined machine, the conveyor-chains 38, when feeding, run continuously in one direction, carrying the stock C rearwardly from thel receiving platform through the process of folding and taping without a pause. v Since the tape must be placed upon the folded box throughout its lateral center and at various distances from its longitudinal center, as illustrated yin Figure 11, it-is evident that exact and definite adjust-ments of the taping element be provided for. I have provided for all longitudinal adjustments for placing the tape by the lateral adjustments of the conveyor and folding elements relatively to a fixed center, as before mentioned. The adjustments for placing the tape in the lateral center of the folded boxv blanks of various shapes and sizes are pro-4 side of the machine chains 3S to the tapingl vided for, as shortly appearing, by adjustments Wholly within the taping element E,

which is preferably built as anintegral' part.

of the combined machine, as illustrated in Figure 1 and as in my said co-pending application fully described. "However, it is evident that the taping element may independently function and, as here illustrated in Figures 2 and 8, be separately driven or actuated.

'Ihe successful operation of a taping mechanism for boxes ofvarious sizes and various shapes involved the solution of two lunique problems. The first, that of causing the tape to be placed upon the stockat the exact point desired has been referred to above and will.

be further elucidated as the taping element 1s explained. The second involves means for maintaining the adhesive at a temperature and a degree of fluidity or viscosity that will insure the firm adhesion of the tape -to the box. It is well understood that the fluidity or Viscosity of liquids is affected both by temperature changes and the amount of humidity in the atmosphere. I have found by experience that, if the tape receives the proper degree of moisture from the most'ening roll on days when the atmosphere is hot and dry, the tape must be applied as quickly as possible after leaving the moistening roll on the other hand, when the atmosphere has a high degree of humidity, moisture will be added by the atmosphere. Therefore, to obtain the proper degree of moisture to insure effective adhesion Ain the lateral working center thereof, and is best seen in Figures 2, 4, '5, 6, 7, and 8.

Rigidly attached to the frame A of the machine, is a bracket 99, suitably supporting for rotation a so-called hollow shaft 100, and disposed for rotation for thelmost part Within the hollow shaft 100, is a second or socalled solid shaft 101. The shaft 100 is yieldingly held against rotatory movement by a coiled spring-172 having engagement or attachment at its ends to the shaft 100 and to the bracket 99, as best' seen in Figure 4. 'Rigidly fixed to the shaft 100, is a radially disposed rocker or puller-arm 102, tothe outer or free end of which is rigidly fixed a downwardly projecting curved portion or housing 103 supporting a pair of opposed sets of -suitable preferably yielding or spring tape-gripping fingers 1 4. To and between the fingers 104, tape 10 of\ any suitable width and quality is supplied and threaded' from a'- reel thereof disposed and securely held by lateral fasteners 106 between two holding disks 107 mounted for rotation upon a stubshaft carried at one end of a bracketarm 108 supported intermediate its ends for rotary movement upon a bracket 109 upstand- `ing from the table A. A duplicate pair of grippingmember 121 is normally held yieldingly in retracted position out of engagement with the tape by means of a retracting-spring- The tape 105 is first drawn from the reel by hand and then threaded underv an idleroll 112, then under a moistening reservoir supplied preferably by a tank 114, then around an idler-roll 115, then beneath av guide-roll 116, and then over the moistening roll 117 with the gummed surface contacting with the periphery of the, moistening-roll and receiving moisture therefrom. The tape 105 is then passed under an idler-roll 118, where the tape is reversed so as to expose the moistened side thereof to the atmosphere without contacting with the surface of the several rollers. The tape 105 is then passed over an idler-roll 119 supported on a standard 120 and from roll 119 threaded between the'opposed sets of fingers 104, where the tape is held taut and under tension and gripped by a so-calledgripping-member 121 held by means of slots and bolts 122 for limited sliding movement upon the rocker-arm 102 and adapted at one end to clamp the threaded tape 105 against an upwardly projecting portion 123 of the finger-housing 103. l As best seen in Figures 4 and 5, the

124 having one end fixed to the member 121 at at -121 and the 'other end fixed to the bracket 99 as at 124 (Figs. 4 and 7), and the member 121 is positively actuated to engage or grip the tape against the housingportion 123 by means of a rocker-arm 12,5

radially projecting from the fixed to the said so-called solid shaft 101. .It will be evident that, following such arrangement, the rockerarm 125will also be yieldingly held by the spring 124 both in and returned to normal position.

Mounted for rotatory movement in a suitable bearing 126 supported by the bracket 99,'

- is a shaft 127, fixed upon which is a member 128, best seen in Figures 4 and 7. As there shown, the member 128 is of somewhat skeeleton form and surrounds for relative movement the tape-tensioning housing 103, andV through which member the housing 103 is adapted to reciprocatorily swing rearwardly downwardly and forwardly upwardly through an arc of approximately 32. The member 128 carries a knife-blade 129, which is normally, or when in elevated position, disposed rearwardly of the fingers 104, as seen in Figure 7, the member 128 being also, as more fully later appears, adapted for swinging, movement relatively tothe tensioninghousing 103 to bring its carried blade '129 adjustment on the frame Aby an arm 135.

It will be apparent that without means for adjusting the feed of the tape and the cut lengths ofthe tape, the tape will always be delivered tothe stock at one point irrespective of the size or height of the boxes be-l lng taped, and hence the taping of different size boxes would require different size machines. In my machine, however, provision for adjusting the feed of the tape and the cut lengths of the tape to all sizes-and heights ofboxes is made, and such means and the means for actuating the tape-gripping'pulling, and cutting members will now be described. 4

Also suitably supported by the bracket 99, is a short journal 136 for a rotatable sleeve 137. As best seen in Figure- 6, one end of the sleeve 137 is provided withan annular flange 138 and the opposite end thereof screwthreaded for receiving a nut 139 adapted, when threaded upon the sleeve 137, to clamp firmly together the several intervening members or disks, now to be described, mounted on the sleeve 137, so that said members orl disks shall rotate with the same angular velocity and in fixed relation to each other. Mounted on the sleeve 137 is a pinion-gear 140 having driven connection by means'of a chainor the like 173 and a train of gearing designated as a whole, as 174, see Figure 8, with a sprocket-gear 175 fixed on the conveyor driving-shaft 44.

Also mounted on sleeve 137 and fixed to the gear 140, is a graduated or so-called index disk 141; and disposed on sleeve 137 in flatwise abutting vrelation with the disk 141, is a smaller disk 142 provided upon its periphery with a pair of outwardly projecting socalled cam-noses 143, 144, and also with an to suit or correspond i secondgraduated or index disk146'sustaining a fixed relation to the larger graduated disk 141 by ine'ans of a hub-sleeve 147 andA dowel pins 148, as best seen in Figure 6.

Further disposed upon the sleeve 137 in flatwise abutting relation with the second dial disk 146 is a fourth disk 149 provided upon its periphery with an outwardly projecting index-finger 1493L and with one or more preferablyremovable cam-grooves 150 adapted for engagement by a roller 151 carried in the end of a rocker arm 152 rigidly attached tov the shaft 127, which shaft 127 is adapted for rotation 'under the torsional tension of a helical spring 153 coiled about the shaft 127 and one end of which is attached to a collar 154 and the other end of which is attached to the shaft bearing 126.

Rigidly attached to the hollow-shaft 100, is a pawl 155 adapted for actuation by the cam-nose 144 of disk 142, and rigidly fixed on the solid shaft 10,1 is a second pawl 156 adapted for actuation by the cam-nose 143 of the disk 142. The cam143 is disposed in advance of the cam 144, (Fig. 5), so that, on rotary actuation of the disk 142, the pawl 156 will be tripped, thereby effecting arocking against the spring 124 of the arm 125 and the gripping plate or member 121 actuated, in turn, to grip the tape against thefinger-housing portion 123; and then, the awl 155 will bfeI tripped by the cam nose 144, thereby likewise effect-ing a rocking against the pull of spring sequentlyv a downwardly and rearwardly rocking also of the finger-housing 103 and itscarried fingers 104 the arm 125 rocking in synehronism therewith, and the free end of the tape 105,- in such movement, being carried between the now spaced cutting blades 129 and 130, and deposited lengthwise upon the joint in the stock C being -fed or conveyed between the co-operating rollers 132 and 133. l' i It will also be evident that, when the roller 151 drops into al cam-groove 150, the shaft 127 will be instantly caused to rotate under the torsional tension of the spring. 153, in turn, effecting a rocking of the knife carrying member 128, upon which movement the movable blade 129 is carried into tape shear` ing or cutting (to-operation wi'ththe fixedor stationary blade 130 and the tape 105 thereby cut at the exact point desired after the same 104 and griphas been fed, as described, to and upon the joint in the box-blank C traveling between the rollers A132 and 133, which rollers' are caused toI rotate under frictional engagement with the traveling stock.`

- will be noted that the cam-noses 143, 144, are symmetrical or alike on their lifting or pawl-tripping faces and thereby effect like sequential, operation of the gripping member 125 and the .puller-frame or housing 103, while their opposite faces are unlike, the cam-nose 143 being shaped or formed, as

shown at 143, to release the gripping-actuating Jarm 125 in advance of release of the puller-arml 102 by the other cam-.nose 144, both of which, upon such release return to normal `position by the pull of their respective springs 124 and 17 2, the gripping-plate I,or member 121 being'at the same time retracted by thejspring 124. The purpose of f such release of the tape-gripping and pulling members is to 'prevent any pulling of the tape from its supporting reel on the return movement of said members, as will be obvious.

As best seen in Figure 4, the stationary knife supporting-member 131 is preferably adjustable by means of an adjusting-screw 157 and its co--operating-mechanism 158. The tension'or grip of the fingers 104 upon the tape is adjustable by means of an'adjustment-lever 159 supported by their housing 103, and it will be clear, 103 and its carried fingers 104 are yieldin'gly returned to normal by the action of the helical spring 172, the tape 105, having been already adhesively attached to the moving stock, continues to be drawn from the reel through the puller-frame 103 and guidewires 104 until a sufficient length has been supplied to suit the size box being taped when ycam grooves 150, causing the cutting mech- `anism to operate as is above described. 172 of the arm 102 and con- After the tape is cut to length and applied, it must be smoothly disposed over the surface of the taped edges of the box. This is properly performed by two rotatable brushes 160, 160, rigidly keyed to transverse shafts 161, 161, suitably supported in bearings 162, 162, and driven bythe sprockets 163, 163, actuated by .the chain 173, and I may add that. the idler-roll 133 positioned beneath the stock and co-operating with the knurled roller 132 is 'preferably vertically adjustable by means of a wedge and screw adjustment, not shown, for increasing or decreasing the pressure appliedV to the tape, as it passes between the rollers 132 and 133.

Reverting `now to the indexing assemblage best seen in Figures 5 and 6, normally the several members of the assemblage rotate con-- that, when the puller-housing tinuously in fixed angularrelation to one ticular box-blanks or stock being taped. It

will be noted that thel dials 141 and 146 are graduated in inches, half-inches, and quarterinches from zero to sixty inches. The purpose of such graduation is to serve as an index for effecting pulling and cutting of the tape to proper length and for placing the tape at the proper point on the successive folded box-blanks. The two graduated dials 141 and 146 carry identical graduations up to sixty and serve as an index for setting the taping mechanism to handle stock up to a size measuring sixty inches overall in height 'or stock of substantially any even division of sixty inches in overall height. For larger sizes a larger machine of identical parts and identical functions may be constructed, and it will be apparent from the foregoing description that the tape will be placed upon the moving stock at approximately the exact moment the cams 143, 144

. `engage and trip the pawls 155, 156, and

as, in the combined machine, the taping element E, the folding element D, and the stock feeding means operate in fixed timed relation with each other, the tape will always be placed at the same and exact point so long as the cams 143, 144 bear the same timed relation to the other moving parts of the machine.

The above statements apply with equal and exact force to the cutting mechanism. Therefore, in order to vary the point of contact ofthe tape with the successive folded box-blanks C and also to vary the point at 'which the tape is severed, it is necessary to change the timed relation of the cams 143, 144 and the cam grooves 150 with the other moving parts of the machine. The dial-faced disks 141, 146, remain always in a fixed timed relation with the moving mechanism4 of the entire machine. These disks, as before stated, are graduated from zero' to sixty inches, which means that when they make one complete revolution, the conveyor-chains 38 have traveled sixty inches. When the disks 141, 146 make a half revolution, the conveyorchains 38 have carried the Stock forward thirty inches, and so on, in like proportion. If now the plain disks 142, 149 be rotated relatively to the dial disks 141, 146, so that their index fingers 145, 149a point to zero and 30on their respective co-operating graduated disks 141, 146, and if the plain disk 149 had only one lcam-groove 150, the tape would be placed first at zero and then at every sixty inches. Now, if the plain disk 149 be provided, as in the present instance, with two cam-grooves 150 diametrically opposite, the tape will be cut at every thirty inches from the point at which they are set. Four camgrooves 150 disposed 90 degrees apart would effect a cutting at intervals of fifteen inches, and so on.

Observing Figure 11 of the drawings, it

will be evident that the tape must be placed 'at an exact and definite distance from the front edge s of the folded stock. In the present instance, let it be assumed that the lugs or slats 39 of the conveyor chains 38 are spaced thirty inches, that the overall height dimension, that is to say, the distance from the front edge s and the rear edge t, of the particular box-blank C there shown, is twenty-five inches, and'that the end flaps or portions m to be folded in, that is to say, the forward portions of the blank between the edge s and the scoring line y and the rearward portions a: of the blank between the edge t andthe adjacent scoring line a, are, each five inches in width, so that the finished heighth of the box, with its top and bottom flaps folded in, that is to say, the portion lw of the box intermediate Ithe scoring lines f1/ 2, is fifteen inches; consequently, the index finger 145 of the tape-placing disk 142 will be set at twenty-five inches, so that, when the stock has moved fifteen inches rearwardly through the taping mechanism, or an aggregate distance corresponding substantially to the width of the end flap of one blank and the forward iap x of the succeeding blank plus the gap between said forward flap and the preceding lug 39 of the chain, the tape will be applied. The length -of the tape to be -measured and cut is fifteen inches, and hence the tape pulling and cutting mechanism will be set to correspondingly pull or measure and cut the tape. Thus, at every thirty inches travel of the conveyor-chains, the tape will be applied and cut,

By loosening the clamping nut 139 on the index-assembly sleeve 137, the plain disks 142 and 149 may be rotated to any desired position with relation to the dial disks 141, 146; by then screwing on or tightening the clamping nut 139, the entire indexing -assemblage rotates as a unit. It will 'be understood that the plain disks 142, 149, may be provided with any .number of cam-noses and camgrooves equally spaced apart at even divisions of sixty; by so doing, and with the slats 39 correspondingly spaced, substantially an size or shape box-blank or stock may be tape Should it be required to fold and tape boxes of more than sixty inches of .overall height, this resultmay be obtained by decreasing the speed of the indexing mechanism relatively to the conveyors. In short, by such adjustments in the timed relation of these two mechanisms, the present machine may be well describedas a universal box-folding and boxtaping machine.

An important and valuable feature of my machine is the automatic control and temperature regulation of the moistening fluid. The fluid supply tank 114, which is of large capacity, is capable of hermetic sealing by a screw-threaded cap 164 and so positioned for communication by a vertically disposed feedtop of .said tank,

the desired water level intoture. I have also Pipe When the spring recoils,

165 having a stop flow valve 166 with the reservoir 113, into which the moistenin-g fluid-or water flows. i 113 is an electric or gas heater 167 of any suitable kindthat may beclosely regulated to a temperature that will maintain the water.

or adhesive at a proper consistency or viscosity. disposed through he bottom of the supply tank 114 and extends upwardly to near the the lower end extending downwardly to the open receptacle or reservoir 113, both ends being open. It is, therefore, evident that, as the fluid sinks below the lower open end of the conduit 168, air will be permitted to enter the supply tank 114 thus breaking the hermetic seal and causing the water to flow into the reservoir 113 until the water level rises sufficiently high to stop the flow of air which, in turn, effects a stoppage in the flow of water -hence a constant level is automatically maintained in the reservoir 113.

I have found by experience that the gummed surface of the tape after being moistened is extremely sensitive to heat and moisfound by experience that corrugated box-board and other box material varies greatly in absorbent characteristics and that, in order to insure efficient and satisfactory adhesion of the tape to the stock, the viscosity of the adhesive must be changed. to suit the atmospheric and weather conditions, as well as to suit various classes of stock. ,By means of the heating element 167'I maintain the moistening fluid at aproper consistency for average conditions, and then by raising or lowering the idler roll 119 upon the standard 120, the roller 1-19 being` adj ustable up or down upon the standard 120 by means of a friction-clamp 169 over a relatively wide range, I am able to expose the moistened tape for a longer or shorter period of time before it is applied to the folded boxblank, thus obtaining maximum results.l

It is evident that the' output of the Inachine per unit of time depends upon the speed of the conveyor, which, in my machine, is relatively high, necessitating a quick return of the tape-placing mechanism. The return of such mechanism is effected as described, by the torsional tension of the spring 172. This spring 172 is of srch strength, however, thatit recoils with considerable force and, if not opposed, would impose harmful strain and shock upon the adjacent mechanism. To obviate this, I have provided a pneumatic shock absorber consisting of a cylinder`170 pivotally mounted on a bracket 171 provided with an adjustable air vent 171 having a piston reciprocal therein, which piston is operatively connected by a rod 170 to a rockerarm 170 located intermediate the ends of the shaft 100 and rigidly it is evident that Beneath the reservoir An air-tight conduit 168 is vertically attached thereto.'

the shock will be absorbed by the air cushion between the piston and cylinderheads. As best seen in Figure 8, the shiftable beams 36 are provided in the rear portion of the machine with side plates 189, which, at their upstanding marginal portions, function to guide the folded and taped boxv from the machine. I might here state that, in the combined machine, the shaft 44 is driven-V through chain-connection 46 with a countershaft* 22 having, in turn, gear or other connection with the main preferably electrically driven main-shaft of the machine, as in my said co-pending application fully described.l If my new tapingmechanism is singly or separately constructed, the shaft 44, upon which is also fixed one of the driving-sprockets 45 for the conveyor-chain 38, may have driven connection with a suitable electric-motor 17 by means of the driving seen in Figure 2, and in such machine, the folded stock to be taped may be supported on the table B and over the conveyor 38 in more connections clearly or less closely adjacent relation to the taping mechanism, as seen 1n Figures 2 and 3.

My machine is automatic in its operations and is exceedingly eicient in the performance of its Vintended functions, and I am aware that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of my machine'may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and princple of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y

1. In a box-taping'machil'ie, incombination, 4means including separately operable gripping and pulling members for-'applying sections of a continuous tape upon respective successivelyfed stock, means for severing such respective tape-sections, and means for successively feeding the stock to' and through the taping means. A

2. In a box-taping machine, in combina.- tion, oscillatory means including separately operable gripping and 'pulling members for applying sections of a continuous tape upon respective successively fed stock, means including a pair of co-operating blades having their cutting effect inclined 4against the travel of the tape for severing such respective upon successively fed stock and then severing such s ections, mechanism common to vsaid applyingfa'nd severing mechanism for coordinately adjusting the operation of the same in accordance with the dimensions of the particular stock being taped, and means for successively feeding the respective stock through lthe taping means.

5. In a machine for taping box-blanks of various dimensions, in combination, .means for applying sections of a continuous tape upon successively fed stock and then severing suc'h sections, coordinat'ely adjustable index-regulating mechanism common to and effecting actuations of the applying and severing means in accordance with the dimensions of the particular stock being taped, and means for successively feeding the respective stock through the taping means. j

6. In a box-taping machine, in combination, a support for the stock to betaped, a taping standard in fixed osition upon the support, means mounted or movement upon the standard for applying sections of a continuous tape upon the successively fed stock and then severing such sections, means mounted on said standard for coordinating and effecting the applying and severing operations and means for successively conveying the respective lstock for taping to and through the taping means.

7 In a box-,taping machine, in combination, means including an oscillatory swingable memberfor applying sections of tape upon successively fed stock-blanks, means including a swingable knife for severing the tape, and means including a pair of relatively shiftable rotary cam-disks for effecting actuations of said applying and severing means in accordance With the dimensions of the particular stock being taped.

8. In abox-tapingmachine, in combination.

' means including a swingable member for applying sections of a continuous tape upon successively fed stock-blanks, means'including a swingable knife for severing the tape means including a pair of relatively shiftable rotary cam-disks for effecting actuations of said applying member and severing knife, and means includin dial members for cow ordinating the angu arity of the cam-disks relatively to each other in accordance with the dimensions of the particular stock-blanks being taped.

9. In a box-taping machine, in combination,-a pair of separately operable axially oscillatory shafts, means on one of said shafts for gripping the tape and means on the other of said shafts for applying the vtape upon successively fed'stock-blanks, a third axially oscillatory shaft, means including a knife fixed on the third shaft for severing the tape, means including a pair of relatively shiftable cam-disks for effecting actuations of said shafts, and means including a pair of dial disks in fixed relation to each other and associated with the cam-disks for co-ordinating the angularity of the'cam-disks relatively to each other in accordance with the dimensions of the particular stock-blanks being taped.

10. In a box-taping machine, inl combination, a pair of separately operable axially oscillatory shafts, having a common center, means xcd on one of thesaid shafts for gripping theA tape, and means on the other of the shafts for applying the tape upon successively fed stock-blanks, a third axially oscillatory shaft, means including a knife ixed on the third shaft for severing the tape, means including pawlson the shafts and a pair of rotatable cam-disks shiftable relatively to each other for tripping the pawls to effect actuations of the shafts, and means including a pair of-dialdisks in fixed relation to each other and associated with the cam-disks for co-ordinating the angularity of the camdisks relatively-to each other in accordance with the dimensions of the particular/ stockblanks being taped.

11. In a box taping machine, gripping and pulling members for applying sections of a continuous tape upon respectively fed stock, said means includingltape gripping fingers, and means for adjusting the tensional .grip of said fingers with said tape.

' 12. In a box taping machine, gripping and pulling members for applying sectionsv of a continuous tape upon respectively fed stock, said means including tape gripping fingers, a gripping member reciproc'able relatively to said fingers, and means for varying the reciprocation of said gripping member.

13. In a box taping machine, gripping and pulling members for applying sections of a continuous tape upon respectively fed stock, said means including tape gripping fingers, a gripping member reciprocable relatively to said fingers, means for adjustably reciprocat, ing said gripping member, and means adjustable independently of said second mentioned means for operating said gripping fingers.

14. In a box taping machine, oscillatable pulling means for applying sections of a continuous tape upon respectively fed stock, gripping fingers on said pulling means, means for adjusting the engagement of said gripping lingers with said tape, a gripping memer reciprocable relatively to said iin ers,

oscillatable means separately operable from said pulling means for reciprocating said gripping member, and means for varying the reciprocation of said gripping member.

15. In a box taping machine, oscillatable pulling meanslfar applying sections of a continuous tape upon respectively fed stock, gripping fingers on said pulling means, means for adJusting the engagement of said gripping fingers wlth, said tape, a gripping .member recprocable relatively to said ingers, oscillatable means separately operable from said pulling means for reciprocating said gripping member, and means for operating said second mentioned oscillating vmeans lo oordinately with the operation of said pullmg means, so that the tape will begripped by sald vgripping member prior to operative movement of said pulling means.

16. In a machine for taping box-blanks, in combination, means for applying sections of a continuous tape upon successively fed stock and then severing such sections, said severing means including a stationary ysevering member and an. oscillatable severing member cooperating with said stationary member,` and means for adjusting the stationary member relative. to said applying means.

` In testimony whereof, I have signed'. my name to .this specification. v

JOHN I-I. MGBIKE. 1 

